When my in-laws Marti and Leon lived in Norton, we often went to their house for dinner on Sundays. Lauren and Marti usually made either pot roast with potatoes and carrots or pasta and meatballs. Both were served with salad—twigs and leaves, Leon called it since it was always spring mix. Leon didn’t like twigsContinue reading “Do Not Go Toward the Light”
Tag Archives: Life and Death
The Day of the Dead
My senior English teacher, Ms. Koepsel [kep suhl], made my class memorize the following Emily Dickinson poem: They say that ‘time assuages’ —Time never did assuage —An actual suffering strengthensAs Sinews do, with age — Time is a Test of Trouble —But not a Remedy —If such it prove, it prove tooThere was no Malady.Continue reading “The Day of the Dead”
Her Gates Shall Lament and Mourn
Haunted House
The man moves up the walkway to the front door and opens it. The door opens to a hall that connects to a dining room with a beat-up oval table. There’s one seat at the table and in that seat is his father. “What are you doing here?” “I don’t know. What are you doingContinue reading “Haunted House”
An Elegy for Christmas Past
It is 5:42 am Christmas morning when the young man’s bedroom door creaks open and he hears his brother’s voice. “You awake?” “Yeah, bro. Come on in.” “Think I should wake up Ruthanne?” “It’s tradition, right?” Stephen disappears, then reappears a minute later with Ruthanne. “I was up already,” she says. “Just didn’t know ifContinue reading “An Elegy for Christmas Past”
It Was a Beautiful Eulogy
His father went to the old family farm in Columbiana, Ohio, for Uncle Ludwig’s funeral. Granny and all her sisters were there. He stayed for a week and loved visiting with all of them and their families. He comes home and tells the young man and the rest of the family his favorite moment. “WeContinue reading “It Was a Beautiful Eulogy”
It Is the Gloaming
Camille is not going to make it, no matter how hard she tries. Thunderstorms keep rolling through Houston, Southwest will not finish the final leg to Corpus Christi. She has called several times to explain, the last time in tears. She tells his mother, “I hope he is not waiting for me.” “Let’s do this.Continue reading “It Is the Gloaming”
This Will Be the Day That I Die
Until South Padre Island Drive ends. That’s how long you drive to get to Big Shell. You drive the island expressway across the bridge, pass Snoopy’s on the right, pass through Flour Bluff, watch it turn to a two-lane road, and then there are sand dunes and a sign that says, “Four-wheel drive vehicles onlyContinue reading “This Will Be the Day That I Die”
Why Don’t You Try Something Different?
The man sits on a leather couch. He keeps his phone at arm’s length and facedown. His therapist is how you picture a therapist—a sweater, salt and pepper hair, glasses, trim, legs crossed, leather shoes, a steno pad on his lap and a pen in his right hand. They are two-thirds through the session. “SoContinue reading “Why Don’t You Try Something Different?”
Revelations Communicate Divine Intelligence
What the man would like to know is if the dreams are revelatory. He has read about Joseph and his interpretation of dreams. He has studied Lehi’s dream. He has studied Daniel and the stone cut out of the mountain without hands. In his stewardship interview with the stake president, he asks, because after all,Continue reading “Revelations Communicate Divine Intelligence”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 